Side retainer plate for variable bore ram packer for a ram type blowout preventer

Abstract

A variable bore ram packer including a ram body, a top seal and a packer member designed for use in a standard ram-type blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations is disclosed. A side retainer plate is molded into the edges of the packer member. The side retainer plate includes a depending lip portion to minimize extrusion of the elastomeric material between the packer member and the guideways of the blowout preventer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A variable bore packer used in a ram-type blowout preventer for oil and gas drilling operations, comprising: 
 a packer member moveable within a ram guideway of a blowout preventer, said packer member molded of elastomeric material having a central opening sized to fit closely about a tubular member upon closure of said blowout preventer;    a plurality of packer inserts molded within said elastomeric material into a unitary structure to form an insert array to move and seat against different diameter tubular members to prevent extrusion of said elastomeric material between said packer inserts and the tubular member;    said unitary structure is molded to form a pair of side block seals integral with said packer member, said side block seals having an upper and lower face; and,    a pair of wing retainer plates molded within each of said upper and lower faces of said side block seals to prevent extrusion of said side block seals within said ram guideway of said blowout preventer.    
     
     
         2 . A variable bore packer used in a ram-type blowout preventer for oil and gas drilling operations according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said side block seals substantially conform to said ram guideway of said blowout preventer.    
     
     
         3 . A variable bore packer used in a ram-type blowout preventer for oil and gas drilling operations according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said wing retainer plates include a planar portion and a depending outer portion, said depending outer portion positioned below the surface of said side block seals and adjacent said ram guideway of said blowout preventer.    
     
     
         4 . A variable bore packer used in a ram-type blowout preventer for oil and gas drilling operations according to  claim 3 , including: 
 an elongated slot in said planar portion of said wing retainer plates.    
     
     
         5 . A variable bore packer used in a ram-type blowout preventer for oil and gas drilling operations according to  claim 3 , further including: 
 a packer pin molded within each of said side block seals, said packer pin including horizontal and vertical portions, said vertical portion including reduced diameter end segments that engage said elongated slots in said planar portion of said wing retainer plates.    
     
     
         6 . A variable bore packer used in a ram-type blowout preventer for oil and gas drilling operations according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said horizontal portion of said packer pin includes a slot for securing said packer member of said variable bore packer to a ram.    
     
     
         7 . A variable bore packer used in a ram-type blowout preventer for oil and gas drilling operations according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said plurality of packer inserts molded within said elastomeric material surround said central opening of said packer member.    
     
     
         8 . A variable bore packer used in a ram-type blowout preventer for oil and gas drilling operations according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said packer inserts include a top plate, a bottom plate and a central web positioned therebetween; and,    said top plate, said bottom plate and said central web are integrally formed.    
     
     
         9 . A variable bore packer used in a ram-type blowout preventer for oil and gas drilling operations according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 each of said top and bottom plates includes a guide lip and a guide shoulder; and,    said plurality of packer inserts coact to provide an irising motion to move and seat against different diameter tubular members.    
     
     
         10 . A ram-type blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations having a variable bore ram assembly, comprising: 
 a body with a vertical bore;    a pair of opposing bonnet assemblies laterally disposed in said body;    a pair of opposing variable bore rams laterally moveable within said bonnet assemblies;    said variable bore rams providing a seal around a tubular member having a diameter within a predetermined range, said tubular member disposed within said vertical bore upon closing of said variable bore rams;    said pair of variable bore rams each includes a ram body, a top seal and a packer member;    a packer member moveable within a ram guideway of a blowout preventer, said packer member molded of elastomeric material having a central opening sized to fit closely about a tubular member upon closure of said blowout preventer;    a plurality of packer inserts molded within said elastomeric material into a unitary structure to form an insert array to move and seat against different diameter tubular members to prevent extrusion of said elastomeric material between said packer inserts and the tubular member;    said unitary structure is molded to form a pair of side block seals integral with said packer member, said side block seals having an upper and lower face; and,    a pair of wing retainer plates molded within each of said upper and lower faces of said side block seals to prevent extrusion of said side block seals within said ram guideway of said blowout preventer.    
     
     
         11 . A ram-type blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations having a variable bore ram assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said side block seals substantially conform to said ram guideway of said blowout preventer.    
     
     
         12 . A ram-type blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations having a variable bore ram assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said wing retainer plates include a planar portion and a depending outer portion, said depending outer portion positioned below the surface of said side block seals and adjacent said ram guideway of said blowout preventer.    
     
     
         13 . A ram-type blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations having a variable bore ram assembly according to  claim 12 , including: 
 an elongated slot in said planar portion of said wing retainer plates.    
     
     
         14 . A ram-type blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations having a variable bore ram assembly according to  claim 13 , further including: 
 a packer pin molded within each of said side block seals, said packer pin including horizontal and vertical portions, said vertical portion including reduced diameter end segments that engage said elongated slots in said planar portion of said wing retainer plates.    
     
     
         15 . A ram-type blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations having a variable bore ram assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said horizontal portion of said packer pin includes a slot for securing said packer member of said variable bore packer to a ram.    
     
     
         16 . A ram-type blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations having a variable bore ram assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said plurality of packer inserts molded within said elastomeric material surround said central opening of said packer member.    
     
     
         17 . A ram-type blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations having a variable bore ram assembly according to  claim 16 , including: 
 said packer inserts include a top plate, a bottom plate and a central web positioned therebetween; and,    said top plate, said bottom plate and said central web are integrally formed.    
     
     
         18 . A ram-type blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations having a variable bore ram assembly according to  claim 17 , including: 
 each of said top and bottom plates includes a guide lip and a guide shoulder; and,    said plurality of packer inserts coact to provide an irising motion to move and seat against different diameter tubular members.